The start of college football season likely will add to traffic chaos in Alabama this weekend. AAA predicts more Americans will travel for Labor Day because of brighter economic prospects.The Birmingham News file photo (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The start of the college football season is expected to add a bump to an already busy travel forecast for the Labor Day weekend.

Nationwide, AAA predicts 34.1 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles away from home this weekend, which is an increase of 4.2 percent compared with 2012.

The increase will translate into added traffic on roads and in the air, with air travel expected to increase by 3 percent, according to AAA.

AAA cites a slightly brighter economic outlook as the reason for the increase.

At the crossroads of the Southeast U.S. -- typically among the most active travel regions in the country -- Labor Day weekend coincides with the opening dates on several college football schedules.

A home game at Auburn means U.S. 280 -- under heavy construction in anticipation of the next set of intersection conversions -- will ferry tons of traffic through the weekend.

"We're going to have some really, really busy highways all over Alabama for the next four or five days," Ingram said.

Though average gas prices have stair-stepped upward within the past several days, prices have declined in recent weeks. The statewide average price per gallon of regular gasoline stood Thursday at $3.36.

The amount is six cents higher than one week ago, two cents lower than one month ago and 26 cents lower compared with one year ago.

A price bump isn't uncommon with a travel holiday weekend approaching, but prices continue to vary widely from station to station. A good rule of thumb is to avoid paying more than the statewide average price, Ingram said.

Other factors going into the holiday weekend could have an impact. The Associated Press reported Thursday that the likelihood of a U.S.-led strike on Syria pumped up oil prices to their highest level in two years.

Another regional transportation option won't be available Monday. The Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority announced won't be any bus service on Labor Day, and its administrative offices will be closed.

Normal bus routes and schedules resume on Tuesday.

Watchful eyes

All road travel will be done under the concentrated, watchful eyes of law enforcement.

There won't be any temporary lane closures on interstates and state highways during that period. Emergency closures may be done if needed during situations such as major crashes, according to ALDOT.

Florida: The Florida Department of Transportation will pass along road construction information through its free Florida 511 app, available for download via Google Play or iTunes. For more information, click here.

Georgia: Construction-related lane closures will be suspended between noon Friday and 5 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Tennessee: Construction lane closures will be suspended between noon Friday and 6 a.m. Tuesday, according to state transportation officials.